The two preceding volumes of my memories would
have remained incomplete without a third carrying on the record
until the end of the Great War, to which much of the matter contained
in them seems now to have been a prelude. The reception accorded
to the second not less than to the first series has, moreover,
encouraged me to continue. My critics have been so consistently
kind that there has been little in their comments to elicit a
rejoinder. One reviewer from the other side of the Atlantic, however,
gently protested against a tendency to intermingle with really
serious matter stories in a lighter vein as being distracting
to the reader. To him I would reply that l did not set out to
write a history of my own times, but rather to give a picture
of contemporary life, as I had seen it from posts of vantage.
Since life is compounded of grave and gay, my picture would be
unfaithful without the lighter element.

Another suggested that I must have been surprised
myself at being able to compile three volumes of autobiography.
I should be disposed to agree with him had these volumes been
more than incidentally autobiographical. Their aim was rather
to convey the atmosphere in which events of importance took shape,
to describe certain phases of an old order which is passing away,
and to throw a more familiar light on some of the personalities
who have played an important part in public affairs. Thirty-seven
years of diplomatic experience in foreign countries have provided
ample material. So little did I seek to be autobiographical that
in the earlier volumes I refrained as far as possible from expressing
opinions of my own, and endeavoured to exclude matter which was
only personal. It has been less easy in dealing with recent events
to adhere to this principle, and occasions inevitably arose when
conflicts of view in matters affecting the public service had
also a personal element. For any opinions which may be here expressed
I am solely responsible.

One further criticism which provokes a reply
is that of having been too discreet. In an old public servant
due reserve is not only a virtue, but an obvious duty, and it
must be a condition of the publication of such memoirs. Some who
have lived through exceptional times with exceptional opportunities
for observation may feel tempted like Procopius to compile an
Arcana Historia, supplementing the more circumspect judgments
of men and things which it is legitimate to express. An unexpurgated
history of experiences during the Great War might be an entertaining
document. But it would record conclusions derived from sources
which could not be properly used and appreciations which, though
the author might not doubt their accuracy, could not be supported
by evidence which would satisfy the judicial standard. There is,
however, to my mind something antipathetic in posthumous criticism,
and what it is not convenient to say openly is best buried and
forgotten.

I wish to repeat, more especially in regard
to this volume, that all that has been recorded here is derived
from notes in my diaries, from letters written at the time and
from memory refreshed by these. The sequence of events as I saw
and interpreted them is fully dealt with in dispatches which remain
available for examination at a proper time and place. I have not
re-read any of my own dispatches since. There must always be much
which eludes or would be out of place in an official report, and
my present purpose has rather been to reproduce the ambience in
which historic developments took place, and to supplement the
balder narrative with more intimate appreciations.

Finally, I wish to emphasize that in describing
the attitude of Italy immediately before and during the Great
War, the story of which begins with the eighth chapter, I have
endeavoured to convey what I believe to have been the general
trend of popular opinion. Certain groups, certain individuals
were no doubt inspired by more directly nationalistic or even
imperialistic ambitions, and were less concerned with moral and
ethical obligations. I do not pretend to have fathomed, as some
writers claim to have done, the recesses of the minds of San Giuliano,
of Salandra, of Sonnino, or even of Bissolati, for whose political
appreciations I had a great respect. The important point for me
was that Italy entered the war on the side of the allies at a
very critical moment. And this she could not have done without
the support of the nation constraining and overawing an admittedly
neutralist majority in Parliament. It is the mentality of the
nation and not that of individuals which I have endeavoured to
interpret. The Italian temperament is an inheritance from an ancient
marriage between the practical and the ideal, the Latin and the
Lombard. The practical and logical spirit reaffirmed itself when
the hour came to balance accounts. But in the valley of decision
ideal considerations played a greater part than has been generally
recognized. And the idealists have had their reward. For although
the nation, influenced by an intensive process of suggestion from
groups or individuals disappointed m particular aims, has not
yet realized the fact, the material results of the war for Italy
have, in my opinion, been more important and intrinsically more
valuable than those achieved by any of the great powers engaged
in the struggle.

I gratefully acknowledge a debt to my friends
Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Trevelyan who have been so good as to look
through the proofs of this volume.

Sir F. Bertie, Ambassador.
King Victor Emmanuel. Prinetti's illness. Visit of King Edward
VII. Illness and death of Leo XIII. The Funeral. The Conclave
and the election of Pius X. Death of Lord Salisbury. Bertie as

Political situation in Italy.
The earthquake at Messina. Aehrenthal and lsvolsky. Opening of
Keats-Shelley Memorial. With King Edward in the Mediterranean.
My official reception. Porto Fino. Crete once more. The diplomatic
body. Herr von Jagow. Sonnino's "hundred days." San
Giuliano as Foreign Minister. Roosevelt in Rome. Death of King

The Funeral. Kitchener. The
Villa Rosebery. The old Protestant Cemetery at Rome. Cholera
at Naples. Shakespeare monument at Verona. Prince Bülow.
Fiftieth anniversary of Italian Unity. Exhibitions at Turin and
Rome. Reconstitution of British school. Visit to Sardinia. The
National Monument. The Coronation. Agadir. Island of Giannutri.
Grounding of the San Giorgio. Outbreak of Italo-Turkish

A Franco-Italian incident.
Visitors to the Embassy. Attempt on life of King of Italy. The
Dedication of the Campanile at Venice. Italo-Turkish peace
negotiations. Germany and Great Britain. A Corsican Vendetta.
The Balkan States attack Turkey. The Layard bequest. Death of
Sir Reginald Lister. V. Jagow appointed Foreign Minister at Berlin.
His hopes for an understanding with Great Britain. Austrian pressure
on Italy to join in action against Montenegro and Serbia. The
historic Ball at the British Embassy. Second Balkan War. Second
Austrian attempt to involve Italy in aggression against Serbia.
The Conference of Ambassadors. Albania. Aubrey Herbert. Deadlock

The Serajevo assassinations
and the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia. Efforts to avert war. Italy
declares her neutrality. We enter the war. News of Goeben
and Breslau. Death of Plus X and election of Benedict
XV. Propaganda at Conclave. British representation at Holy See.
Counter-propaganda. M. Destrée. The anti-war groups in
Italy. The interventionists. Salandra and San Giuliano. Importance
of Italy's neutrality. Embassy Staff. Sir C. Capel-Cure. Death

Opening of campaign. British
Military Mission. An emissary from the ex-Khedive. Sonnino's
Balkan policy. Italy and Germany. Difficult nature of Alpine
warfare. Characteristics of Sonnino. British ambulances. G. M.
Trevelyan. Charles Lister. Rifles for Russia. A hospital in Sicily.
Summons to London. British Italian Corporation. Kitchener's visit
to Rome. His views. Serbian retreat in Albania. Measures for
relief and rescue. British Adriatic Mission. Lord Montagu. Red
Cross and Blue Cross. Shortage of material and foodstuffs in

Mr. Asquith's visit. The Italian
Front. Reverse in the Trentino. Salandra resigns. Boselli Prime
Minister. The Fascio. Shortage of shipping. Mr. Runciman.
Conference at Pallanza. Contraband and War-Trade issues. We take
charge of the fruit trade. Hemp purchases. Miscellaneous duties
of Ambassadors in war-time. General Foch. Dr. Benes. Supilo.
Pasitch. Propaganda. Donna Bettina di Casanova. The British Institute
in Florence. The war work of the Ambassadress. Club for British

Military situation at end
of 1916. Greece and the Allies. German peace proposals. M. Caillaux
in Italy. Summoned home to confer. Conference at Rome. Mr. Lloyd
George's plan of campaign. Proposals withdrawn. General Sarrail.
General Lyautey. Briand and Albert Thomas. The Vatican. Death
of H. Cust. Visit of Sir W. Robertson. Russian Revolution. The
United States enter the war. Negotiations with Senoussi. Mark
Sykes. St. Jean de Maurienne. Anti-military propaganda in Italy.

Premonitions of victory. The
advance from the Piave. Vittorio Veneto. Mutiny at Pola. The
German débâcle The Armistice. Return of King of
Italy to Rome. Preparations for Peace Conference. Considerations
which moved Italian Statesmen. President Wilson's progress. Death
of Roosevelt. Peace negotiations. Withdrawal of Italian Delegates
from Paris and return. Departure of American Ambassador. Colonel
Lawrence. Orlando succeeded by Nitti. Sonnino withdraws from
public life. His death. My retirement. Mission to Egypt. D'Annunzio
and Fiume. Departure from Rome. Subsequent activities. Byron